Session 3 · Forward Flight

Aim: the trainee can supervise the forward transition, fly the aircraft on the wing in circuits and figure-eights, combine turns with altitude change, and manage the back transition to hover.

Transition behaviour (see Flight Operations §4/§6): the forward transition is autopilot-managed and near-flat (small altitude change), handing off at the design cruise speed; the back transition balloons ~15–20 m as cruise speed converts to altitude — plan clearance. EP450: no airspeed sensor — watch ground speed, keep stall margin.

3.1 First transitions

Supervise several forward transitions and back transitions at altitude (with a hover-mode escape ready). Observe the altitude/airspeed behaviour and confirm clean hand-off to cruise and recovery to hover.

3.2 Circuits at altitude

Fly a right-hand circuit at ~80 m, descend to ~50 m, fly a circuit, climb to ~65 m, fly a circuit.

Turn radius at cruise is per-aircraft — EP450 ≈ 47 m at cruise (min ~39 m); EP250 ≈ 72 m at 35 m/s trim and the 60° bank limit [E] (derived from the flight-configured envelope). Plan circuits with margin.

3.3 Figure-eights (inward & outward turns)

Fly constant-radius figure-eights with both inward and outward turns; keep bank and airspeed steady.

3.4 Climbing & descending turns

Combine turns with altitude change (80 → 50 → 30 m), maintaining coordinated flight.

Outcome: trainee supervises transitions and flies coordinated circuits, figure-eights and climbing/descending turns, recovering to a stable hover each time.